I never considered how hard it would be to leave my kid with a babysitter. As it turns out, leaving little Emma behind is really tough. She needs me to cut her grapes in quarters, pop up from the staircase and surprise her, and sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” (her current favorite) at nap time. It takes quite the offer to pull me away from those responsibilities!

Aaaand we’re back! After a much-needed visit to the doctor’s office and a couple of prescriptions filled, the Larkin Family is on the mend. We’re definitely still movin’ slowly, but hey: makin’ progress.

This is my go-to sherpa pullover for chilly October morning walks, which is why I’m so bummed it’s sold out. (Boohoo.) Yes, it’s as soft and cozy as it looks, and yes, my family calls me the “Abominable Mommy” whenever I wear it. But fear not: I’ve rounded up a bunch of incredibly similar sherpa-inspired pullovers so your friends and family can mistake you for this guy, too. ;)

Mitch and I had a somewhat low-key weekend, and it was just what the doctor ordered. Yes, it took us a couple of tries to actually get through the “Big Sick” on account of exhaustion and a bad internet connection, but we watched a movie (first one in months!); grabbed dinner with new friends; took part in a Moana singalong with our six-year-old next-door neighbor; got a solid eight hours of sleep one night (huzzah!); took a couple of long walks with Noodle; and went on a date night at the Chicago Athletic Association. (Thanks for babysitting, Chelsea!)

It’s not exactly news that I didn’t often leave Lincoln Park for my first couple of years in Chicago, haha. It was a point of contention for Mitch and me: he, understandably, wanted to explore other areas of the city, and I really preferred staying in our neighborhood. I loved the quiet townhouse-lined blocks and the bustling shopping streets; the restaurants I frequent and the parks I know so well; the ease of simply walking out my front door with Emma in her stroller instead of dealing with getting her in and out of her car seat four times for a single trip. (And packing everything she could possibly need in case of a disaster.)